MODEL
Audi Rs5 Sportback
NHTSA safety across every Audi Rs5 Sportback model year we cover.
Across the 1 model year of the Audi Rs5 Sportback we cover (2019 to 2019), the strongest crash-test showing is the 2019 at 99 on the NHTSA Safety Index. No recalls are on record across those years.
The 2019 Audi RS5 Sportback is a high-performance, five-door fastback sedan sitting at the top of Audi's mid-size sport coupe lineup. It blends aggressive RS performance credentials with the practicality of a rear hatch, targeting enthusiast drivers who refuse to compromise on either speed or everyday usability. This is a premium, low-volume machine with a specific and devoted audience.
At MotorCaliber, we focus squarely on safety, and the 2019 Audi RS5 Sportback presents an interesting but incomplete picture. The model earns a standout NHTSA Safety Index of 99 out of 100, landing firmly in the Exceptional band - a strong headline number. However, shoppers should understand how that score is built. NHTSA's rollover rating comes in at a perfect 5 out of 5 stars, reflecting the RS5 Sportback's low center of gravity and wide stance, which are genuine structural advantages in a performance-oriented platform. The frontal and side crash-test ratings, however, are listed as Not Rated, meaning NHTSA did not conduct those specific barrier tests on this model year. The Safety Index score is therefore driven heavily by the rollover result and related metrics, not a full suite of crash-test data. On the recall front, the picture is clean: zero recalls recorded across our covered 2019 model year, which is a meaningful positive for a vehicle with complex engineering. Owner complaints total just three, with zero reported crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths among them - and as always, these are unverified allegations. The RS5 Sportback's safety profile is genuinely promising, but the absence of frontal and side ratings leaves a gap that cautious buyers should acknowledge.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAYReviewers generally celebrate the RS5 Sportback as one of the more compelling ways to combine serious performance with everyday practicality in the premium segment. Most praise its powertrain refinement, interior quality, and the added versatility of the Sportback body style, while noting that the price point places it in a very competitive and demanding class.
- The 2019 RS5 Sportback earns an exceptional NHTSA Safety Index of 99 out of 100, but shoppers should note that this score is anchored primarily by a perfect 5-star rollover rating - frontal and side crash tests were not conducted by NHTSA for this model year.
- There are zero recalls on record for the 2019 model year, a reassuring result for a low-volume, high-complexity performance vehicle.
- Owner complaints across the covered model year total only three, with no reported crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths among them - though NHTSA notes these are unverified allegations.
- The absence of full frontal and side crash-test data means buyers cannot make a complete apples-to-apples safety comparison against competitors that have been fully tested - a real gap worth factoring into any purchase decision.